Star Tribune Articles - Voter Suppression Mar 7 Trump Still Controls GOP Mar 8 2021

 

 Perhaps It's an Illness

Clearly something is not right with a huge group of our fellow citizens who cling to the coat tails of a known liar and seditionist. And now, apparently since democracy isn’t working for them, they also want to restrict the right to vote.

I read the article about the Republicans nationwide working hard to make voting “safe from fraud” and, like many people who actually care about democracy and the right to vote, I was outraged. After further consideration, I believe they are still wrong but I now think they deserve at least a little understanding; even before they allowed themselves to be hijacked by that corrupt, east coast grifter they had some mental health issues.

Starting with St Ronny Reagan with his assault on unions and goofy trickledown economics, they began to drift off the road of being a functional political party. Aided by guys like Newt Gingrich and Trump, they are so far off road now that it seems unlikely they will survive without some sort of major intervention. Don’t get me wrong, Democrats don’t have all the answers. In fact, they really need a strong opposition party to keep them from heading down the rabbit hole of their dumbest ideas. Sadly, that is not today’s Republicans. Luckily, I think I know what’s wrong with the Republicans. Among several issues, it’s a condition called Munchausen by Proxy. Bear with me.

This is a very real and rare disease - at least outside of Republican circles - where the afflicted individual causes some sort of injury to someone close to them so that they can turn around and be recognized as a caregiver or savior for that person. Now I ask you, how else would you describe the recent odd behavior in which Republicans have circulated a ridiculous story (created by said liar) and repeated it over and over (with a riot or two thrown in) thus causing great concern among certain people whom they can now “save” by restricting the vote to only those they deem eligible? Yup, Munchausen. (Although that sounds better than what it really is, voter suppression.)

According to experts, “Caregivers who have this condition need long-term counseling. They may resist treatment or deny that there is a problem" (Duh!) So, how can we help our Republican friends recover from this problem? It seems the kindest thing we can do is give them plenty of time for therapy. In turn, the easiest way to do that is by voting them out of office so they won't have the burden of actual governance while in treatment (which, given their record the last several years, should be fairly easy for them.) Republicans are very fortunate here in Minnesota because we can help them. Sadly, people are not so lucky in the red states where they are doomed to continue living in the 18th century until the voters wise up - or a lot of old white guys pass on.   

As for treatment, it might be challenging for them but I would suggest a ten-step program that covers at least: democracies, the Voting Rights Act and human empathy. (Maybe the Constitution but with focus on other amendments besides the Second.)

I wish them good luck and many years of therapy ahead.